Automatic door sensor, automatic door system, and method of controlling automatic door system

Abstract

A special detection area in which detection in accordance with an activation detection algorithm for detecting a person or an object and detection in accordance with a protection detection algorithm having a higher detection sensitivity for the person or the object than the activation detection algorithm are performed is provided. Results of the detections in accordance with the activation detection algorithm and the protection detection algorithm are individually output to an automatic door device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatic door sensor, comprising:
 a detector comprising an emitter and a receiver, the detector configured to output a signal based on an amount of light that is emitted from the emitter to a detection area and is received by the receiver, and 
 a sensor controller configured to detect a person or an object based on the signal output from the detector, 
 wherein the sensor controller comprises an activation detection processing unit for detecting the person or object approaching and opening a door and a protection detection processing unit for detecting the person or object in the vicinity of the door,
 the activation detection processing unit having a lower detection sensitivity reference range for the person or object than the protection detection processing unit, the activation detection processing unit configured to receive and process the signal output from the detector and detect the person or object with the lower detection sensitivity reference range than the protection detection processing unit, and 
 the protection detection processing unit having a higher detection sensitivity reference range for the person or object than the activation detection processing unit, the protection detection processing unit configured to receive and process the signal output from the detector and detect the person or object with the higher detection sensitivity reference range than the activation detection processing unit, 
 
 wherein the detection area has a special detection area in which detections for the same special detection area are performed by both the activation detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit, and 
 wherein the sensor controller is configured to output results of the detections by the activation detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit in the same special detection area individually. 
 
     
     
       2. The automatic door sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the detection area further has an activation detection area in which detection is performed only by the activation detection processing unit, and
 wherein the special detection area is disposed closer to the door than the activation detection area. 
 
     
     
       3. The automatic door sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor controller further comprises a doorway detection processing unit configured to detect the person or object on a track of the door,
 wherein the detection area has a second special detection area in which detections by the doorway detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit are performed, and 
 wherein the sensor controller is configured to output results of the detections by the doorway detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit either individually or collectively. 
 
     
     
       4. The automatic door sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor controller is configured to perform the detection by the protection detection processing unit in the second special detection area only when the door is in a fully-opened position. 
     
     
       5. The automatic door sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor controller further comprises a fixed-wall side detection processing unit configured to detect the person or object in the vicinity of a fixed wall of the door,
 wherein the detection area has a third special detection area in which detections by the fixed-wall side detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit are performed, and 
 wherein the sensor controller configured to output results of the detections by the fixed-wall side detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit either individually or collectively. 
 
     
     
       6. The automatic door sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the activation detection processing unit includes an activation stationary object detection time defined as a time from when the person or object is detected by the activation detection processing unit to when the detected person or object is determined by the activation detection processing unit as a stationary object and excluded from a detection target,
 wherein the protection detection processing unit includes a protection stationary object detection time defined as a time from when the person or object is detected by the protection detection processing unit to when the detected person or object is determined by the protection detection processing unit as a stationary object and excluded from a detection target, and 
 wherein the protection stationary object detection time is longer than the activation stationary object detection time. 
 
     
     
       7. An automatic door system, comprising:
 a detector comprising an emitter and a receiver, the detector configured to output a signal based on an amount of light that is emitted from the emitter to a detection area and is received by the receiver, and 
 a sensor controller configured to detect a person or an object based on the signal output from the detector, and 
 a door controller open/close configured to control a door based on a result of detection of the person or object, 
 wherein the sensor controller or the door controller comprises an activation detection processing unit for detecting the person or object approaching and opening the door, and a protection detection processing unit for detecting the person or object in the vicinity of the door,
 the activation detection processing unit having a lower detection sensitivity reference range for the person or object than the protection detection processing unit, the activation detection processing unit configured to receive and process the signal output from the detector and detect the person or object with the lower detection sensitivity reference range than the protection detection processing unit, and 
 the protection detection processing unit having a higher detection sensitivity reference range for the person or object than the activation detection processing unit, the protection detection processing unit configured to receive and process the signal output from the detector and detect the person or object with the higher detection sensitivity reference range than the activation detection processing unit, 
 
 wherein the detection area has a special detection area in which detections for the same special detection area are performed by both the activation detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit, and 
 wherein, in a special detection area, the sensor controller or the door controller is configured to use a result of detection by the activation detection processing unit for drive control of the door when the door is in a closed position, and use a result of detection by the protection detection processing unit for the drive control of the door when the door is in a position other than the closed position. 
 
     
     
       8. The automatic door system of  claim 7 , wherein the detection area further includes an activation detection area in which detection only by the activation detection processing unit is performed, and
 wherein the special detection area is disposed closer to the door than the activation detection area. 
 
     
     
       9. The automatic door system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor controller or the door controller further comprises a doorway detection processing unit configured to detect the person or object on a track of the door,
 wherein the detection area includes a second special detection area in which detections by the doorway detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit are performed, and 
 wherein, in the second special detection area, the sensor controller or the door controller is configured to use a result of detection by the protection detection processing unit for drive control of the door when the door is in a fully opened position, and use a result of detection by the doorway detection processing unit for the drive control of the door when the door is in a position other than the fully-opened position. 
 
     
     
       10. The automatic door system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor controller or the door controller further comprises a fixed-wall side detection processing unit configured to detect the person or object in the vicinity of a fixed wall of the door,
 wherein the detection area includes a third special detection area in which detections by the fixed-wall side detection processing unit and the protection detection processing unit are performed, 
 wherein, in the third special detection area, the sensor controller or the door controller is configured to use a result of detection by the fixed-wall side detection processing unit for drive control of the door when the door is moving to a fully-opened position, and use a result of detection by the protection detection processing unit for the drive control of the door except when the door is moving to the fully-opened position. 
 
     
     
       11. The automatic door system of  claim 7 , wherein the activation detection processing unit includes an activation stationary object detection time defined as a time from when the person or object is detected by the activation detection processing unit to when the detected person or object is determined by the activation detection processing unit as a stationary object and excluded from a detection target,
 wherein the protection detection processing unit includes a protection stationary object detection time defined as a time from when the person or object is detected by the protection detection processing unit to when the detected person or object is determined by the protection detection processing unit as a stationary object and excluded from a detection target, and 
 wherein the protection stationary object detection time is longer than the activation stationary object detection time. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of controlling an automatic door system, comprising:
 performing, in a special detection area that is a part of a detection area for detecting a person or an object, detection by an activation detection processing unit that detects the person or object is performed when a door is in a closed position, and using a result of the detection for drive control of the door, the activation detection processing unit being provided in a sensor controller or a door controller, the sensor controller configured to detect the person or object based on a signal output from a detector that comprises an emitter and a receiver, the detector configured to output the signal based on an amount of light that is emitted from the emitter to the detection area and is received by the receiver, the door controller open/close configured to control the door based on a result of the detection of the person or object; and 
 performing, in the special detection area, detection by a protection detection processing unit that has a higher detection sensitivity reference range for the person or object than the activation detection processing unit when the door is in a position other than the closed position, and using a result of the detection for the drive control of the door, the protection detection processing unit being provided in the sensor controller or the door controller, 
 wherein the activation detection processing unit includes a lower detection sensitivity reference range for the person or object than the protection detection processing unit, 
 wherein the activation detection processing unit is configured to receive and process the signal output from the detector and detect the person or object with the lower detection sensitivity reference range than the protection detection processing unit, and 
 wherein the protection detection processing unit is configured to receive and process the signal output from the detector and detect the person or object with the higher detection sensitivity reference range than the activation detection processing unit.